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6/29/06

Submit One Manuscript at a Time

Tip: When you are submitting a manuscript to a publisher, do just that--submit A (as in, one) manuscript.

Just this week I've received 4 submissions of multiple manuscripts in multiple genres all at once. When I get an e-mail that has 18 attachments--that's 9 query letters and 9 FULL manuscripts, ranging from picture books to historical fiction to romance to gritty realistic drama--it makes my head spin. And I don't mean that in a good way.

There are just so many reasons why I don't like that.

Don't do this. Pick your best one and send it. If you get a positive response, but it's rejected because it's not a genre the publisher does, or they've already got one like it, or they ask what else you have, then query another manuscript.